Multiple purpose foldable plastic handle for razors or the like

ABSTRACT

A foldable plastic handle for razors or like articles is provided with a supporting head for bearing a shaving blade assembly, a brush, depilating device or similar articles of a toilet set. The handle according to the invention is comprised of a plastic blank provided with channels so patterned on both faces thereof as to define a number of flat sections which are foldably hinged to each other through the hinge joint formed by foldable channel bottom webs, the folding operation of the flat sections of the plastic blank being carried out to build up a locked handle assembly comprising the handle shank properly together with the bearing head ready for its intended use; from the condition of assembled handle it can be dismounted into the blank extended position, and then, the so opened out blank can be folded to a closed form in which the device has a smaller size having a rectangular box shape suitable to be easily handled as personal effects.

United States Patent [1 1 LePaliscot et al.

1 1 Aug.7,,l973

[ MULTIPLE PURPOSE FOLDABLE PLASTIC HANDLE FOR RAZORS OR THE LIKE [76] Inventors: Christian LePaliscot; Juan Quintero Venegas, both of Carrera 16 No. 39A-99, Bogota, Colombia [22] Filed: May 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,228

Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Gary L.-Smith Attorney-Alvin Browdy et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A foldable plastic handle for razors or like articles is provided with a supporting head for bearing a shaving blade assembly, a brush, depilating device or similar articles of a toilet set. The handle according to the invention is comprised of a plastic blank provided with channels so patterned on both faces thereof as to define a number of flat sections which are foldably hinged to each other through the hinge joint formed by foldable channel bottom webs, the folding operation of the flat sections of the plastic blank being carried out to build up a locked handle assembly comprising the handle shank properly together with the bearing head ready for its intended use; from the condition of assembled handle it can be dismounted into the blank extended position, and then, the so opened out bla'nk can be folded to a closed form in which the device has a smaller size having a rectangular box shape suitable to be easily handled as personal effects.

3 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENIEU mm mm SHEET 1 BF 6 PAIENIE Am: 1 I975 SHEET 3 OF 6 PAIENIEDAUB H915 3.750.280

SHEET l (1F 6 FIG. lO-A FIG.

PATENIEDMJB Hm 5,750,280

SHEET 6 OF 6 FIG.

MULTIPLE PURPOSE FOLDABLE PLASTIC HANDLE FOR RAZORS OR THE LIKE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a foldable plastic handle for a razor or the like, such handle having a supporting head for removably bearing a shave blade assembly, a brush, depilating device or similar articles of a toilet set. The handle according to the present invention is comprised of a plastic blank provided with channels patterned on both faces of the blank hinge linked through the rather thin flexible webs forming the channel bottoms, said flexible webs providing folding lines. The folding of the blank is manually effected resulting in the shaping of the handle shank properly together with its associated bearing head. In the following specification and in the appended claims the term "channel" is meant to describe a longitudinal groove having a flexible bottom forming a hinge joint along which adjacent panels can be revolved. The handle-forming blank will be described as having a lower rectangular zone, an interposed zone, and an upper trapezoidal zone hinge joined in a series in the above recited order.

The plastic blank is comprised of a lower substantially rectangular zone on the front face of which there are arranged two straight channels converging to the top thereof. The converging channels symmetrically run toward the blank longitudinal axis. The aforecited converging channels start from the bottom edge of the lower rectangular zone and they extend therethroughout and to some extent they extend also beyond the upper edge of the rectangular zone into the next succeeding zone of the blank or interposed zone. The converging channels are so arranged on the front face of the lower rectangular zone of the blank that they define the inner boundaries of two equal marginal side panels which are trapezoidal in shape with their minor base on the blank bottom edge, and they further define acentral trapezoidal panel. with its greater base on the blank bottom edge and with its top portion centrallyextended into the lower region of the next succeeding zone or interposed zone of the blank. The lower rectan' gular' zone is limited at its top edge by a transverse channel arranged on the back face of the blank. Downwardly distanced apart therefrom there is arranged on the same back face another transverse channel. The two transverse channels define therebetween a parallelogram on the upper margin of the lower rectangular zone of the blank. The parallelogram is thus transversally locatedon the top of the trapezoidal marginal side panels and along the top of the central trapezoidal panel comprised in the lower rectangular zone.

From the cross channel. defining the top edge of the lower rectangular zone there extends the next succeeding'zone or interposed zone of the blank which include two lower marginal side panels which have outer straight edges starting from points equally inwardly shfited'from the top corners of the lower rectangular zone toward the center of the blank. The outer straight edges symmetrically converge in a small degree toward the blank longitudinal axis, the two lower marginal side panels are limited. at their top edges by first biased channels arranged on the back face of the blank, which biased channels symmetrically descend to the outer edges of the interposed zone. The top portion of the central trapezoidal panel, which mainly belongs to the aforecited lower rectangular zone, is centrally interposed between the lower parts of the aforecited lower marginal panels. Two upper marginal side panels are hinge connected to the lower side marginal panels through the bottom web of the first biased channels. The upper side marginal panels have straight outer edges symmetrically which diverge upward in a small degree from the blank longitudinal axis. The upper side panels are limited also by second biased channels arranged on the front'face of the blank, which second biased channels symmetrically descend from the top corners of the involved interposed zone toward the blank central axis. An upper trapezoidal panel is laterally limited by the second biased channels and at its upper edge is limited by a transverse channel arranged on the blank front face. The thickness of the trapezoidal upper panel protrudes from the flat front face of the blank, said protrusion being such that the front surface of the upper trapezoidal panel is slopingly directed toward the transversely arranged channel limiting its greater base. The blank interposed zone is centrally provided with an elongated rectangular opening with its long axis being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the blank. The top transverse edge of the opening forms the minor base of the upper trapezoidal panel and the bottom edge thereof centrally contains the minor base of the extended top portion of the central trapezoidal panel belonging to the aforecited lower rectangular zone of the blank. Thelatter minor base is of a lesser extent than that of the bottom transverse edge of the rectangular opening provided in the interposed zone of the blank.

An upper trapezoidal zone of the blank is hinge joined to the upper edge of the blank interposed zone through the flexible bottom of the transverse channel limiting the top of the just described blank interposed zone. The trapezoid has its outer sides symmetrically converging toward the blank longitudinal axis and a narrow rectangular panel extends outwardly from the trapezoid minor base. The side edges of said rectangular projected panel are provided with flapsturned toward the blank back.

One circular opening is provided on the central trapezoidal panel, this opening having cooperating interlocking. means. On the back face of the upper trapezoidal panel in the blank interposed zone, there is provided a recess for nesting a member having a central internally threaded opening registering with the openingin the trapezoidal panel. The openings having their centers onthe blank longitudinal axis. The internally threaded opening is'suitable for threadly receiving a locking screw for attaching the desired toilet set device to the handle s supporting head. On the bottom margin of the lower marginal side panels of the blank interposed zone and located near the outer edges thereof, there are provided short elongated ribs one on each of said lower marginal side panels. The ribs are interlockablewith' corresponding ribs longitudinally arranged on each one of the inner faces of the backwardly extended flaps provided on the edges of narrow rectangular panel projecting from the blank top trapezoidal zone. The lock is carried out when folding the blank into handle shape.

In order to fold the blank into its handle shape, a backward directed effort is manually applied on the outer edges of the lower side marginal panels of the interposed zone, thereby turning backward the aforecited marginal panels together with the side marginal panels of the blank lower rectangular zone along the upward converging channels provided in the blank front surface. The top trapezoidal zone with its associated narrow rectangular panel of the blank is fully revolved rearwardly forming a rear upper surface. The channel-shaped area defined between the two flaps extending from the edges of the narrow rectangular panel tightly fit the edge margins of the lower marginal side panels of the interposed zone (which have already been brought closely together). Thus, the upper trapezoidal panel belonging to said interposed zone assumes a forward sloped position, from the converging edges of which the upper side panels of the interposed zone slant to form, together, the handle's supporting head. The locked position of the so shaped handle and its associated head is maintained by the engagement between the longitudinal ribs provided on the inner faces of the aforecited flaps and the corresponding longitudinal ribs provided on bottom margin of the lower marginal side panels belonging to the blank interposed zone.

The so built-up handle may be dismounted disengaging the fit between the aforecited ribs to build up again the extended blank. This can then be folded into a close form by turning the blank lower rectangular zone and the interposed zone about the corresponding transverse channels defining the parallelogram on the upper margin of the blank lower rectangular zone and then turning the blank upper trapezoidal panel along the uppermost transverse channel so that the aforecited flaps pass through the rectangular opening centrally provided in the blank interposed zone to fit thereinto. The circular protruding head of the means, used for attaching to the supporting head the desired toilet device, tightly fits within the circular opening provided in the bottom margin of the blank rectangular zone. Thereby a box-like shape is retained. Additional fitting means may be provided, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A thorough understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the handle-forming blank.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the handle-forming blank.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the box-like shape attained when so folding the blank.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the box-like shape of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the handle and its associated supporting head attained when so folding the blank.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the box-like shape of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view showing a detail of the handle associated head.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the blank shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 is an side elevation view showing the blank folded along its transverse channels.

FIGS. 10, 10A, 10B and 10C show the sequence of steps for folding the fully extended blank into a handle and its associated supporting head; and

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the handle of the invention when its supporting head is provided, by way of example, with a shaving blade assembly.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a handle-forming plastic blank comprised of a lower substantially rectangular zone generally designed with the reference A, on the front face of which there are arranged two straight channels 1 converging to the top thereof. The channels are symmetrically located with respect to the blank longitudinal axis, and extend from the bottom edge of the aforecited blank zone therethroughout, and to some extent they extend also beyond the upper transverse channel 2 into the lower region of the interposed zone B. Converging channels 1, l define the inner boundaries of two equal marginal side panels 3, 3 trapezoidal in shape with their minor basis on the blank bottom edge, and their greater base on the channel 2 defining the top edge of the blank lower zone A. The channels 1, 1 further define a central trapezoidal panel 4 with its greater base on the blank bottom edge and with its top portion 5 extended into the next succeeding zone or interposed zone B of the blank. The blank lower zone A is limited at its upper edge by the transverse channel 2 arranged on the blank back face. Downwardly distanced apart therefrom there is arranged on the same back face another transverse channel 6. The two transverse channels 2 and 6 define therebetween a rectangular parallelogram 7 on the upper margin of the blank lower zone A, the parallelogram 7 is thus transversely located on the top of the trapezoidal marginal side panels 3, 3 and along the top of the central trapezoidal panel 4.

From the upper transverse channel 2 there extends the blank interposed zone B which is comprised of two lower marginal side panels 8, 8 having outer straight edges starting from points equally inwardly shifted from the top corners of the blank lower zone A toward the blank longitudinal axis. The outer edges symmetrically converge, to some extent, toward the blank longitudinal axis. The two lower panels 8, 8 are limited at their top edges by first biased channels 9, 9 disposed on the blank back face. The biased channels 9, 9 symmetrically descend to the outer edges of the interposed zone B. The upper portion 5 of said central trapezoidal panel 4, belonging to the blank lower zone A, are interposed between the lower part of the panels 8, 8. Two upper marginal side panels l0, 10 are hinge connected to said lower side marginal panels 8, 8 through the first biased channels 9, 9. These panels l0, 10 have straight outer edges symmetrically diverging outward in a small degree from the blank longitudinal axis and are limited also by second biased channels 11, 11 arranged on the blank front face. The biased channels 1 1, ll symmetrically descend from the top comers of interposed zone B toward the blank central axis. An upper trapezoidal panel 12 is laterally limited by the second biased channels ll, 11 and at its top edge is limited by a transverse channel 13 arranged on the blank front face. The trapezoidal upper panel 12 protrudes from the flat front face of the blank as shown at 14 for instance in FIGS. 7 and 8,-said protrusion being such that the front surface of the upper trapezoidal panel 12 is slopingly directed toward the transverse channel 13 forming the trapezoids greater base. Blank interposed zone B is centrally provided with an elongated rectangular opening 15 with its long axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the blank; the top transverse edge of said opening 15 fonns the minor base of the trapezoidal panel 12 and the bottom edge threof centrally containing the minor base of the top extended portion 5 of the central trapezoidal panel 4 belonging to the aforecited blank lower rectangular zone A, said latter minor base being of lesser extent than that of the bottom transverse edge of opening 15 provided in the blank interposed zone B.

A top trapezoidal zone C of the blank is hinge joined to the upper edge of the blank interposed zone B through transverse channel 13 limiting the top of the blank interposed zone B. The trapezoid 16 has its outer edges symmetrically converging toward the blank longitudinal axis and narrow rectangular panel 17 extends outwardly from the trapezoid 17 minor base; the side edges of Said rectangular projected panel 17 are provided with flaps l8 turned toward the blank back. Flaps 18 have their free long edges in a wedge-like form inwardly tapering, in order to have an easy and snug fit of the panels to be lodged therebetween as will be explained below.

One circular opening 19 is provided in the lower margin of the central trapezoidal panel 4 of the blank lower zone A. This opening 19 is suitable to tightly receive the circular head of a fastening means like the round head 20 (FIG. 11) of a screw which attaches the shaving blade assembly 21 or like toilet devices to the head of the handle. On the bottom margin of the lower marginal side panels 8 belonging to the interposed zone B and located near the outer edges thereof, there are provided elongated ribs 22, 22 (FIGS. 7 and 8) said ribs being interlockable with corresponding ribs 23 longitudinally arranged on each one of the inner faces of the extended flaps 18 provided on the edges of the narrow rectangular panel 17, the lock being carried out when folding the blank into handle shape. On the back face of the upper trapezoidal panel 16 comprised in the interposed zone B, there is provided a recess 25 for nesting a plate, a metal plate for instance, said plate having a central internally threaded bore registering with the opening 24 provided in the trapezoidal panel 12, said openings having their centers on the blank longitudinal axis. The internally threaded bore is suited for threadly receiving a locking screw 20 (FIG. 11) for attaching the desired toilet set device to the handle's supporting head. The toilet set device may be,for instance, the shaving blade assembly as shown at 21 in FIG. 11.

As explained hereinbefore, in order to fold the extended blank (FIG. for assuming its handle shape as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, a backward directed effort is manually applied on the outer edges of the lower side marginal panels 8 (FIG. 10A) of the interposed zone B, thereby turning backward the panels 8 together with the marginal side panels 3, 3 of the blank lower zone A, along the upward converging channels 1, 1 (FIG. 108) provided in the blank front surface. The top trapezoidal zone C with its associated narrow rectangular panel 17 is fully turned rearwardly (FIG. 10B) forming a rear upper surface with the channel-shaped area defined between the two flaps l8, backwardly extended from the edges of the rectangular panel 17, tightly fitting the marginal edges of the already brought closely together lower marginal panels 8 (FIG. 10C). Thus the upper trapezoidal panel 12 of the blank interposed zone B assumes a forward sloped position as shown in FIG. 5 and from the bottom connecting webs of the converging channels 11, the two upper side panels 10, 10 of the interposed zone C, slant downwardly and diverge rearwardly for thus forming altogether the handle supporting head (FIGS. 5 and 11).

The locked condition of the thus formed handle shank and its associated head is maintained by means of the engagement between the longitudinal ribs 23 provided on the inner faces of flaps l8 and the corresponding longitudinal ribs 22 provided on the bottom side margin of lower panels 8 of the blank interposed zone, the interlocking of corresponding ribs 23 and 22 resulting in a snug fit maintaining the condition of erected handle.

The so built-up handle may be dismounted manually by disengaging the fit between ribs 22 and 23 to build up again the extended blank. This extended blank can be folded into the closed form shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 by turning the blank lower zone A and the interposed zone about the folding transverse channels 6 and 2, respectively, thereby arranging the parallelogram 7 as an end wall and zones A and B as spaced apart top and bottom walls, while the circular head 20 of the attaching screw (FIG. 11) is brought into register with the circular opening 19 for effecting a press fit therebetween. At the same time, the blank top zone C is turned backward along the folding channel 13 and the pair of extended flaps 18 are press fitted into the rectangular opening 15 centrally arranged in the interposed zone B thereby completing the erection of the blank into a locked box-like shape suitable for easily handling as personal effects.

It will, of course, be apparent that changes and modifications other than those described hereinab'ove, can be made, without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A one piece 'handle comprising a shank handle and a supporting head for removably bearing a toilet set device, said handle being dismountably erected from a one piece plastic blank, said one piece blank comprising, a lower rectangular zone, an interposed zone and an upper zone, wherein a. said lower rectangular zone comprises: two equal marginal side panels trapezoidal in shape with their minor bases on the blank bottom edge and with their greater bases on the top edge of said rectangular zone, and a central trapezoidal panel with its greater base on the blank bottom edge, said trapezoidal central panel having its top portion centrally extended into the lower region of said interposed zone; said marginal trapezoidal panels being hinge joined by their inner side edges to the side edges of said trapezoidal panel along the bottom connecting webs of two corresponding channels converging to the top thereof, said, channels being arranged throughout the blank front face to run symmetrically toward the blank longitudinal axis and extending themselves to some extent into the lower region of the aforecited interposed zone; a transtheir top edges by first biased channels arranged on the blank back face and symmetrically descending to the top of said outer straight edges of the lower marginal side panels, and with the top portion of the aforecited central trapezoidal panel belonging to said blank lower rectangular zone being interposed between the lower part of said side lower panels; two upper marginal side panels hinge connected to said lower side marginal panels along said first biased channels, said upper marginal side panels having straight outer edges symmetrically diverging from the blank longitudinal axis and being upwardly limited by second biased channels symmetrically descending from each of the top corners of the interposed zone toward the blank longitudinal axis; and an upper trapezoidal panel laterally limited by said second biased channels and further being limited at its top edge or greater base thereof by a transversely arranged channel on the blank front face, the thickness of said trapezoidal upper panel protruding from the blank flat front face, said protrusion being slopingly directed toward said greater base of said trapezoidal upper panel; an elongated rectangular opening being centrally provided in said interposed zone, said opening having its long axis coaxial with the blank longitudinal axis, its top edge being the minor base of said trapezoidal upper panel, and its bottom edge centrally containing the minor base of said central trapezoidal panel of said blank lower rectangular zone and which has its top portion extended into said interposed zone; a circular opening being provided in said upper trapezoidal panel for receiving an attaching screw, said opening having its center on the blank longitudinal axis; and a longitudinally arranged rib provided on the bottom side margins of each one of said lower marginal side panels; and

. said upper zone, hinge connected along said transverse channel defining the top edge of the aforecited interposed zone, comprises: a trapezoidal section, the trapezoid having its outer sides symmetrically upwardly converging toward the blank longitudinal axis; and a narrow rectangular panel extending from the top minor base of said trapezoid, said rectangular panel having extended from each of the longitudinal edges thereof flaps having one longitudinal rib on their inner surfaces, said flaps having a wedge-like cross-section inwardly tapermg.

2. A one piece handle dismountablY erected, according to claim 1, wherein, when the panels adjacent to said two upwardly converging channels are folded backward along said converging channels, said lower marginal panels of said interposed zone are brought closely together to be tightly fitted between said flaps, and the handle erected condition is locked by engagement between said longitudinally arranged ribs provided on the bottom side margin of each one of said lower marginal side panels and the corresponding ribs longitudinally arranged on the inner face of said flaps.

3. A one piece handle dismountably erected, according to claim I, wherein when dismounted, said circular opening provided on the lower margin of said trapezoidal central panel can register be brought to regiser with the head of the toilet set device attaching screw, for carrying out a press fit therebetween, when said lower zone and said interposed zone of the extended blank are turned along said transverse channels defining said parallelogram, and said two flaps are tightly fitted into said rectangular central opening provided on said interposed zone, to thereby maintain the blank into a locked box-like shape.

I i i i I 

1. A one piece handle comprising a shank handle and a supporting head for removably bearing a toilet set device, said handle being dismountably erected from a one piece plastic blank, said one piece blank comprising, a lower rectangular zone, an interposed zone and an upper zone, wherein a. said lower rectangular zone comprises: two equal marginal side panels trapezoidal in shape with their minor bases on the blank bottom edge and with their greater bases on the top edge of said rectangular zone, and a central trapezoidal panel with its greater base on the blank bottom edge, said trapezoidal central panel having its top portion centrally extended into the lower region of said interposed zone; said marginal trapezoidal panels being hinge joined by their inner side edges to the side edges of said trapezoidal panel along the bottom connecting webs of two corresponding channels converging to the top thereof, said channels being arranged throughout the blank front face to run symmetrically toward the blank longitudinal axis and extending themselves to some extent into the lower region of the aforecited interposed zone; a transverse channel arranged on the blank back face, limiting said lower rectangular zone at its top edge; another transverse channel arranged downwardly distanced apart from said first transverse channel, on the blank back face, defining therebetween a parallelogram on the upper transverse margin of the blank lower rectangular zone; said trapezoidal central panel being provided on its lower margin with a circular opening having its center on the blank longitudinal axis; b. said interposed zone, hinge connected to said lower rectangular zone along the transverse hinge channel defining the top edge of the aforecited lower rectangular zone, comprises: two lower marginal side panels having outer straight edges starting from points equally inwardly shifted from the top corners of the lower rectangular zone toward the blank center, said outer straight edges slightly converging toward the blank longitudinal axis, said two lower marginal side panels being limited at their top edges by first biased channels arranged on the blank back face and symmetrically descending to the top of said outer straight edges of the lower marginal side panels, and with the top portion of the aforecited central trapezoidal panel belonging to said blank lower rectangular zone being interposed between the lower part of said side lower panels; two upper marginal side panels hinge connected to said lower side marginal panels along said first biased channels, said upper marginal side panels having straight outer edges symmetrically diverging from the blank longitudinal axis and being upwardly limited by second biased channels symmetrically descending from each of the top corners of the interposed zone toward the blank longitudinal axis; and an upper trapezoidal panel laterally limited by said second biased channels and further being limited at its top edge or greater base thereof by a transversely arranged channel on the blank front face, the thickness of said trapezoidal upper panel protruding from the blank flat front face, said protrusion being slopingly directed toward said greater base of said trapezoidal upper panel; an elongated rectangular opening being centrally provided in said interposed zone, said opening having its long axis coaxial with the blank longitudinal axis, its top edge being the minor base of said trapezoidal upper panel, and its bottom edge centrally containing the minor base of said central trapezoidal panel of said blank lower rectangular zoNe and which has its top portion extended into said interposed zone; a circular opening being provided in said upper trapezoidal panel for receiving an attaching screw, said opening having its center on the blank longitudinal axis; and a longitudinally arranged rib provided on the bottom side margins of each one of said lower marginal side panels; and c. said upper zone, hinge connected along said transverse channel defining the top edge of the aforecited interposed zone, comprises: a trapezoidal section, the trapezoid having its outer sides symmetrically upwardly converging toward the blank longitudinal axis; and a narrow rectangular panel extending from the top minor base of said trapezoid, said rectangular panel having extended from each of the longitudinal edges thereof flaps having one longitudinal rib on their inner surfaces, said flaps having a wedge-like cross-section inwardly tapering.
 2. A one piece handle dismountablY erected, according to claim 1, wherein, when the panels adjacent to said two upwardly converging channels are folded backward along said converging channels, said lower marginal panels of said interposed zone are brought closely together to be tightly fitted between said flaps, and the handle erected condition is locked by engagement between said longitudinally arranged ribs provided on the bottom side margin of each one of said lower marginal side panels and the corresponding ribs longitudinally arranged on the inner face of said flaps.
 3. A one piece handle dismountably erected, according to claim 1, wherein when dismounted, said circular opening provided on the lower margin of said trapezoidal central panel can be brought to register with the head of the toilet set device attaching screw, for carrying out a press fit therebetween, when said lower zone and said interposed zone of the extended blank are turned along said transverse channels defining said parallelogram, and said two flaps are tightly fitted into said rectangular central opening provided on said interposed zone, to thereby maintain the blank into a locked box-like shape. 